Photographic-printing frame.



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W. G. WOOD. PHOTDGBAPHIC PRINTING FRAME.

(Application led Dec. 11, 1901.)

(N0 Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM G. WOOD, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PHOTOGRAPHlC-PRINTING FRAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 715,923, dated December 16, 1902.

Application filed December ll, 1901.v Serial No. 85,504. (No model.)

improvements have for their object, first, to.

provide a printing-frame with means for regulating the size and shape of a print wit-hout using paper margins or reducing borders; secondly, to enable negatives of several different sizes to be set and Aheld in a printing-frame of a given size, and generally to produce a printing-frame having such scope and such features of adjustment that the sameframe can be used to print from negatives of several different sizes and the prints can be made of different dimensions as to length and breadth without the use of separate margins or borders or other devices to cover or shut off the marginal edges of the negative. The following description explains at length the nature of the said improvements and the manner 0f constructing, applying, and carrying out the same, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a plan of the top or upper side of a printing-frame embodying the said improvements with portions of the frame broken away to expose the construction of parts within the structure. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken through the frame when the same is in an inverted position with the removable platen or board turned uppermost to insert or remove the printing-paper. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken through the frame in a plane at right angles to the vieu7 Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a View in perspective of one of the adjustable strips of the margin-printing device. Fig. 5 is a View in perspective of one of the removable hangers that hold the plain glass on which negatives of smaller sizes than the frame are carried. Fig. 6 illustrates a modification of the hanger, in which that supporting means is made in the shape of a frame.

Heretofore in the operation of making prints from negatives where the dimensions in length and breadth of the print are to be reduced it has been the practice to cover or shut off the marginal edges of the negative all around the sides by laying upon the negative a paper frame or margin around the edges of the plate of proper width to bring the print within the required dimensions of length and breadth, and in proceeding to produce a given shape or outline the printer selects from a number of margins or borders,

such as are obtainable from dealers in photographic materials, the one that will come the nearest to the required size of the print when -it is finished. As a substitute for these paper margins the present improvement consists in providing the printing-frame with four movable strips of metal placed or arranged in the form of a parallelogram, so as to incluse between them a rectangular field, and also capable of being moved in right lines across the opening of the frame, so as to increase or reduce the dimensions of the space inclosed between the strips, while still preservingthe rectangular shape. Thefourmovable strips are independently adjustable as to position, and provision is made for keeping 'the strips always parallel with the sides of the frame. The manner of constructing and applying these adjustable strips will be understood from Figs. I and 2 0f the drawings, in which 0L a are the parts of the printing-frame, b l) c c the adjustable strips, and d the negative. In a printing-frame of the form shown where the length exceeds the breadth the movable strips b that are parallel with the longer sides are confined and maintained also parallel with each other by tongues or pieces f, fitted to slide in grooves g in the shorter sides or ends of the frame, and the ends of each strip extending beyond the frame for a proper distance are finished with heads orare otherwise properly formed to be readily grasped and moved by the fingers. In like manner the shorter strips c c are held in line with each other and also at right angles to the longer strips before described by means of tongues or pieces j', working in grooves h in the longer bars or side pieces of the frame. These strips are best made of thin metal having proper stiffness to remain flat and produce a sharp clear edge on the print and are IOO secured to the tongues or guide-pieces f by sol-,

dering, brazing, riveting, or otherwise fastening them together when those parts are made of separate pieces. Fig. 5 illustrates One manner of making the guide-piecefintegral with the strip by stamping a blank out of sheet metal with laterally-extending pieces z' on one side of the strip and then bending down the pieces on parallel lines m m, so as to produce the rectangular tongue fx. The guide slots or grooves to receive the tongues on the strips are made in the top faces of the rails a a., and the top frame ax, which is rabbeted to admit and to furnish a support for the glass negative,is fastened in place by screws p at the corners after the adjustable strips are set in place. A plain glass plate s is set in the frame in the place of a negative when it is desired to print from a smaller negative than the rabbeted opening of the frame will carry, and on this plate the negative is supported at proper distance under the strips to allow the latter to slide smoothly over and lie dat on the negative. The plate s is supported within the opening of the frame by hangers t, formed of metal strips bent twice at right angles on each end, so as to produce the hook-shaped ends u. These ends resting upon the rabbeted edges of the opening are 0f proper length to bring the upper surface of the plate about flush with the rabbet or at proper distance below the adjustable strips to accommodate the negative from which the print is to be made. This supporting means may also be made in the form of a frame, as shown in Fig. 6, made to fit the opening of the printing-frame and extending around the four sides, so as to furnish a ledge or support X under the edges of the plain glass plate on all sides instead of at the opposite ends alone. This last-described support for the glass is better adapted for printing-frames of larger sizes, while the supports t can be furnished for use in small printingframes. In either form of the supporting means the same is loosely laid in place, so that it may be removed when a negative of the full size of the frame-opening is to be printed from. By this means the frame is made to hold a negative of smaller size than the rabbeted opening simply by setting the plain glass s in place and laying the negative upon it. Then by sliding the margin-regulating strips over the edges of the negative the latter will be held in position on the transparent support ready to receive the paper.

The printing-frame is provided with the usual clamp w and springs y to hold the sensitized paper in contact with the negative.

Having thus fully described myinvention, whatI claimas new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a printing-frame having a rectangular opening, formed of longitudinal and transverseY bars, grooves in said bars parallel with the sides of the opening, and flat margin-regulating strips provided with laterally-extending tongues adapted to lit into said grooves and permit said strips to slide in such grooves, the parallelism of such strips being always maintained, substantially as set forth.

2. In a frame of the character described, the combination of a rectangular frame having the longitudinal and transverse bars composing the same grooved longitudinally, metallic strips adapted to slide in saidgrooves, always at right angles, and detachable hangers to carry the negative support, substantially as set forth.

3. In an article of the character described, the combination of a rectangular frame,

formed with grooves in its longitudinal and transverse sides, parallel strips having guiding and retaining extensions formed at right angles thereto, and adapted to slide in said grooves, whereby the parallelism of the strips is maintained, substantially as set forth.

4. In an article of the characterdescribed, the combination of a rectangular frame, having parallel grooves formed therein, marginstrips sliding therein, the inner edge of said frame being rabbeted, and a metallic platesupporting hanger having its ends bent to conform to the rabbeted portion of the frame, and adapted to be supported thereby, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of two subscribing wit- DGSSGS.

WILLIAM G. WOOD. NVitnesses: I

LoUIs H. BRowNsToNE, MATTHEW BRADY. 

